In Spain there are a total of 1,345 wind farms that have more than 22,000 mills and generate approximately 39,000 jobs. With an accumulated power of 30,000 MW, wind energy has been the main source of electricity generation in its territory during 2023. Wind energy is a renewable, unlimited and inexhaustible energy source, which takes advantage of the kinetic energy of the wind through wind turbines to produce electricity. Spain has positioned itself as the second European country in installed wind power and the fifth in the world.
In the following Ecology Verde, we will describe in detail everything you need to know about Wind Parks in Spainwe will know how many parks exist, what are the Spanish communities with more parks and also, we will discover 10 examples. Don’t miss it!
How many wind farms are in Spain
Spain has been a pioneer in using wind energy as a source of renewable energy and the first parks have been installed in frequent winds. It is also the Second country of Europe in installed wind power and the fifth country of the world after China, the United States, Germany and India. But how many wind farms are in Spain? According to data obtained from the Wind Business Association (AEE), there are currently in total 1,345 wind farms with more than 22,000 mills in more than 1,053 municipalitiesin which more than 39,000 people work.
These advances are mainly due to current legislation in Spanish territory such as the Law of the Electric Sector of 1997 and its development regulations, the research and development program for the use of wind energy and its conversion into electricity of 1979 launched by the Ministry of Industry and Energy, and the National Renewable Energy Plan approved in 2011, among other legal tools.
Benefits of wind energy
Wind energy has numerous benefits, including:
- Take advantage of the energy produced through the wind (abundant and inexhaustible), avoiding the use of fossil fuels and the emission of large tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere
- Generates employment.
- Compared to other energy sources, their installation and commissioning costs are cheaper.
- Its maintenance is simple because the systems are more efficient over time.
- The cost of electricity decreases.
Environmental impact of wind energy
Although wind energy has a lower environmental impact compared to other energy sources, the installation and implementation of the parks generates certain consequences in the environment, such as: for example:
- Sound pollution for the noise produced by the turbine.
- Alterations in the soilsince it can destroy it partially or total, compact and/or erode it.
- Elimination and degradation of the vegetation cover.
- Bird collision Against the turbine blades.
- Destruction or degradation of habitats.
What are the autonomous communities with more wind farms
The analysis of the distribution of wind farms states that in almost all provinces there are wind farms with the exception of Madrid, Córdoba, Girona, Alicante, Badajoz and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla. However, their distribution between regions is Very unequal.
According to a report by the Wind Business Association (AEE) that deals with the macroeconomic impact of the sector, five Autonomous Communities: Castilla y León, Aragón, Galicia, Andalucía and Castilla-La Manchathey concentrate More than 70% of the country’s wind power. 50% of the 1,600 MW that are operations, were located in plants in Castilla-La Mancha (837 MW) and approximately 30% in Aragon (492 MW). Likewise, new powers were installed in Castilla y León, Cataluña, the Canary Islands, Navarra, Asturias and Andalusia. Next, you can see this map of wind farms in Spain, with the power of each autonomous community.
Examples of wind farms in Spain
- El Tablo (Castilla y León): Located in Borobia and Beratón, province of Soria. It has a power of 19.80 MW.
- El Cerro (Castilla y León): Located in the Sedano Valley and Los Altos de Dobro in the province of Burgos, it has a power of 19.80 MW.
- Magaña (Castilla y León): Present in Ocala, Soria, with a power of 24.75 MW.
- Poza II Páramo (Castilla y León): Located in Poza de la Sal, Burgos. It has a total power of 48.74 MW.
- Juno (Castilla y León): The Juno Wind Park covers Sálacabras, Narros, Magaña and Aracón (municipal ejidos of the province of Soria) and has a power of 49.50 MW.
- The Serreta (Aragon): In Jalón and Plasencia de Jalón, Zaragoza province has a power of 49.50 MW.
- Tardenta I (Aragon): Within the municipality of Tardie in Huesca, the Tardenta I Wind Park is located with 49.50 MW of power.
- Coastal Sierra II (Aragon): The Sierra Costera II wind farm covers the municipalities of Cañada Velilla, Cuevas de Almudén, Mexquita de Jarque and Galve, and is located in the province of Teruel. It has an MW power: 40,80.
- Cerro Vicente (La Mancha): Located in Pozo Cañada and Chinchilla del Monte Aragón, Albacete generates a power of 39.10 MW.
- Campalbo (La Mancha): Located in Graja and Campalbo, Province of Cuenca, it has a power of 49.30 MW.
Now that you have more information about wind farms in Spain, you may also be interested in these articles on renewable energies in Spain and renewable energies: what are and examples.
If you want to read more articles similar to Wind Parks in Spainwe recommend that you enter our category of renewable energy.
Wind Business Association. Available at https://aeeolica.org/
Mirror Marín, C. (2004). Wind energy in Spain. Geographical Research, No. 35, 2004; pp. 45-65.
Ruiz, JM, & Serrano, MLT (2006). Identification of significant environmental impacts in the implementation of wind farms. An example in the municipality of Jumilla (Murcia). Geographical research (ESP), (41), 145-154.
